Dada Returns: Poster Exhibit & DJ Party at The Factory This Saturday

It's now been almost three months since Dada closed its doors in Beijing, and many music lovers around the capital are still mourning its loss. However, we have good news! This Saturday (Sep 20), there will be a special Dada pop-up event happening at The Factory in Gulou, paying homage to one of Beijing's most iconic music venues with a mashup of art, music and nostalgia.

Launched in Shanghai in 2009 before expanding to Beijing in 2012, where it opened first in Gulou before moving near Ritan Park in 2021, Dada quickly cemented its reputation as one of Beijing's most legendary clubs. While the brand lives on in Kunming, its departure from the capital left a Dada-shaped hole in the city's nightlife. This pop-up aims to fill that hole, if only temporarily.

The event will see a special exhibition showcasing dozens of Dada's legendary posters from over the years. For longtime patrons, it'll be a trip down memory lane, revisiting the artwork that helped define Beijing's underground scene for more than a decade. 

Along with the exhibition, there will be a range of exclusive Dada merch like hats, t-shirts and posters available, as well as the chance to own some of Dada's history with a few original canvas posters up for sale. So, if you're a true Dada fan be sure to get yourself down there early to nab one. Lucky buyers will get the added bonus of some FREE Dada merch as well. 

It's not only artwork that The Factory has in store, though. In true Dada fashion, the pop-up will include a stacked DJ lineup featuring Dada regulars Leo Furioso, Yesen, Oshi, and Yujie – the selectors who helped shape the club's signature sound.

On the collaboration, The Factory's owner Zak Elmasri shared with the Beijinger:

“I'm happy to host Dada at our venue on Gulou Dong Dajie, the same street that Dada was originally on. I was there from the very beginning to the very end, and I remember when Dada Shanghai first opened. I've actually been to both locations it had in Shanghai, as well as the one in Kunming. 

With this event, it feels like the brand is coming full circle, returning back to Gulou Dongdajie, which is probably its more fondly remembered venue in Beijing compared to its later Ritan venue. Dada was a stalwart of Gulou and Gulou establishments, so it's nice to host such an important venue back in the hutongs.”

So, whether you're chasing a dose of nostalgia, hunting down rare poster art, or just itching for a proper night out in Gulou, head over to The Factory this Saturday and raise a toast to Dada as its legacy lives on. 

The Dada Pop-Up and Exhibition will be taking place at The Factory from 4pm and entry is free. Those interested in purchasing one of the original posters can speak to a member of staff. 

The Factory
135 Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District
东城区鼓楼工厂鼓楼东大街135号

READ: Events and Happenings in the 'Jing This Weekend (Sep 19-21)

Images: courtesy of The Factory, Dada